Banjo amplifier



Nov; 2 1926.

A. J. SHILEY BANJO AMPLIFIER Filed May 1924 INVZ'NTOR Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES 'AR'IHUR J. snILEY, or 'IHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BANJO AMPLIFIER.

Application filed lMay 23,

' My invention'relates to new and useful improvements in a banjo resonator, which is adapted foruse in connection with banjos and other musical instruments principally those of the banjo type and has for its primary object to increase the sounds or tones of the musical instrument by adding a sounding board which will deflect the sounds, thus preventing said sounds from being deadened on the clothing or person of the player. 1 Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for attaching the resonator to a musical instrument.

A further object of the invention is.to provide spring actuated means for closing the recess in the side wall of the resonator I when the neck piece of the banjo is set therein.

With these. ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims. In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, may understand how to make and use the same, I

will describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanylng drawing forming apart of th s appllcatlon,

, in which Fig. l, is a conventional plan view of a banjo showing my resonator connected therewith. A p

Fig. 2, is an enlarged section at the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. V w

Fig. 3, is a further enlarged fragmentary plan or edge view of the resonator in the region of the recess which receives the banjo neck.

Fig. 4, is a sectionalside elevation of this portion of the resonator looking at it from the inside.

Fig. 5, is an enlarged plan view of one of the bracket plates forming a part of one of the fastening elements.

Fig. 6, is an enlarged sectional side elevation of one of the fastening elements.

Fig. 7, is an enlarged sectional perspective view of one of the spring holders.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, 2 represents a musical instrument, here shown as a banjo and comprising a rim or body 3 over which the flesh or archment headet is stretched and held in p ace in the 1924. Serial No. 715,266.

usual manner including the tension hooks 5 and a neck piece 6.

The reference "numeral 7 denotes my improved resonator which includes a back or sounding board 8 surrounded by a sidewall or flange .9 and this backand sidewall are preferably made of veneered wood, as plain- 1y shown in Fig. 4, wherein outside and inside layers 10 and 11 respectively are suitably. secured toan intermediate layer 12.

The flange or side wall 9 is provided with a recess 13 to receive the neck piece 6 of the banjo and as neck pieces of different instruments vary in size andsh'ape this recess must I be of .sutficient size to accommodate a number of the variations. It being desirable to close the unoccupied portion of the recess 13 after the neck piece of'the instrument has been set therein I provide a pair of tongues or sliding blocks 14which are slidably mounted in grooves 15 formed in' the' recess block 16 fixed to the inside of the resonator in' the region' of therecess "13. The'tongues of sliding blocks 14 are pressed outward by springs 17 preferably two for eachtongue so that the latter may accommodate them selves to the different shapes, of the neck piece and being forced against the neck piece will close the unoccupied portion of the recess 13 so that the sound waves'will be directed toward the open end of the resoora v In the resonator are located a number'of springi holders 181 which arehere shown as being four in 'number'and these spring holderslpreferablyeachcomprise a base portion 19'to engage the inside face of the back or sounding board 8 and uprights 20 engaging the inner face of theflange or side wall 9. In the base portion is formed a hole 21 in which a spring 22 is set with its inner-end 23' projecting beneath the base portion 19 and having an extension 24 turned up and forced into said base portion, as shown in Fig. 7. spring 22 is a rest 25 which resembles a fiat headed rivet having the legs 26 separated so as to engage a coil of the spring to prevent accidental displacement.

At substantially diametrically opposite 105 way 28 having a slot 29 therethrough. A

At the upper or outer end of the screw 30 has an end projecting through the slot 29 in the channelway wherein ahead 31 is slidably mounted which is fixed to the inner end of the screw, Said headis of rectangular shape so thatit cannot turn thus preventing the screw from revolving while permitting the latter to he moved longitudinally of the bracket plate. On the outer threaded end of the screw 30 is ad- To place the resonator on the banjothe latter is set in the resonator and pressed down so that the springs 22 are compressed and in this position the hooks 32 are adjusted so as to pass over the edge of the banjo body, After the adjustment of, the hook 32 is once obtained it is unnecessary to change the adjustment. To rotate the hooks 32 soas to engage them with or disengage them from the outer edge of the banjo body the screw 30 may be shd toward one end of the bracket plate 27 a sufficient distance to permit the hooks to be turned 1 between adjacent tension hooks 5; When the1hooks'32 have been brought into engagement withthe banjo body and pressure on .thebanjo' is relieved the spring 22 will tend to force the. banjo outward so that any lost motion ofthe parts will be taken up,

'Vhemthe banjo is placed in the resonator the neck piece 6 thereof will engage the tongues or sliding blocks 14 and force them inward, or any part of them, until they adjust' themselves to the shape and width of the neck piece. 7

Of course I do not wish to be limited to theexact details of construction as herein shown as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, wh'atl claim as new and useful is 1. A banjo resonator including a back wall, a flange projecting therefrom, said flange having a recess therein, a recess block secured within the resonator in the region of the-recess, sa1d block having grooves there in, and spring actuated tongues mounted in said grooves.

2. A banjo resonator including a back wall, a flange pro ecting therefrom, sa1d flange having a recess therein, a recess block secured within the resonator in the region of the recess, said block having grooves therein, tongues slidably mounted in the grooves, and springs for forcing said tongues toward each other.

- S. A banjo resonator including a back wall, a recessed ,flang e carried bylthe back wall, a plurality of spring holders mounted within the resonator, coiled springs set in I the spring holders ,for engagement with the inner edge of a, banjo body, channeled bracket plates each having a slot therein fixed within the resonator, each ha-Vinga longitudinal slot, screws passing through the sl otsin the bracket plates and having heads slidably mounted in the channels,

hooks having threadedengag ement with the outer ends of said screws whereby they. may beadjusted and rotated to cause them to engagethe outer edge of the banjo body.

4. A banjo resonator including'a-back Wall. a: recessed flange carried by-the back wall, a plurality of spring holders imounted within the v resonator, coiled springs set in the spring holdersjfor engagement with the inner edge of a banjo body, channeled bracket plates. each having a slot therein fixed within'the resonator, each having a longitudinal slot,- screwspassin'g throu h the slotsin the bracket plates and having eads slidably mounted-in the channel's, hooks hay mg threadedengagement with the outer ARTHUR J. SHILEY. 

